TFL402 Sustainable Business (Høst 2021)

• Identify and critically discuss global contemporary challenges in business and society, this includes knowledge of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and an understanding of how these relate to business operations
• Analyse the role of capitalism, both the benefits capitalism has brought humanity, and the costs
• Discuss the purpose of the corporation, including social responsibility, and ethical implications of sustainability challenges
• Analyse how the emergence of new business models in the economy are related to issues of resource scarcity, circular economy and environmental regulation
• Know how to apply theories of sustainability, circular economy and sustainable business models to business practise

We start this course by describing the major challenges in society today, including the degradation of the earth’s ecosystem and the increasing threat of climate change. The introductory part of the course ends with an in-depth discussion of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Then we ask the question: How did we end up here? We trace the historical roots of capitalism and provide the students with the knowledge to better understand current sustainability challenges in economics and business. Going forward, how can businesses be a force for good? What is the moral responsibility of business, and how can businesses develop sustainable business models?